Suffolk University Hockey Head Coach Chris Glionna was named ECAC Northeast Coach of the Year for the 2009-10season. Glionna guided the Rams to a third-place finish in the ECAC Northeast with an 8-4-2 league record as the Rams finished the season with a 12-11-3 overall record.
2009-10 turned out to be one of the most successful seasons in Suffolk Hockey program history as the Rams finished the regular season with a five-game winning streak that saw them defeat two nationally ranked teams, Curry College (3-2 overtime victory on Feb. 6) and Wentworth College (4-2 on Feb. 11). The Rams also won their first-ever Cod Fish Bowl Tournament on December 20, defeating host UMass.-Boston, 2-1 in the championship game.
Glionna also had five of his players earn ECAC Northeast All-Conference honors, including junior Jeff Rose (Collinsville, Conn.) who was named ECAC Northeast Goalie of the Year. Rose broke two school single-season records, goals against average (2.68) and save percentage (.919).
Suffolk University Director of Athletics, James Nelson praised Glionna for his achievement both on and off the ice this season: "Suffolk University notes with great pride the recognition of Coach Chris Glionna as the ECAC Northeast Ice Hockey Coach of the Year for the 2009-2010 season. Chris's commitment to developing a successful on ice program complemented by his insistence of his players to exhibit good citizenship and success academically has provided a most memorable year for the Suffolk Rams. His mentoring of 1st Team All Star and ECAC Northeast Goaltender of the Year, Jeff Rose and two 2nd Team All ECAC recognitions to J.A. Wein and Nick Davis are further testament to the quality of instruction that has led to this honor for him."
Aside from their outstanding efforts on the ice, the Rams were also active members in the community. On December 6 the Rams partnered with the Suffolk University Police Department as they held a Toys for Tots drive prior to their home game versus Assumption College. The campaign took in over fifty donations for the "Toys for Tots of Massachusetts." On February 9, several Suffolk Hockey players along with Assistant Coach Greg Fowke took part in the Boston Public Schools Special Olympics program hosted by Emmanuel College.
The awards came rolling in early this season for Glionna, who also serves as a lawyer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Glionna was named as a 2009 Massachusetts "Super Lawyers Rising Stars" in litigation from a poll of Massachusetts attorneys conducted by Boston Magazine and Law and Politics Magazine. Super Lawyers Rising Stars" are nominated by their peers and evaluated by a blue ribbon panel. Only 2.5% of the eligible attorneys in Massachusetts are selected. To qualify, an attorney must be age 40 or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less.